The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1887-05-28

the reason gwen lor HUI PayinS -"
i'll question. L would remlno
hun that if he has not used other pubic
money to pay the township lnterest,his
can have no concern Ill
the matter.
To sum up the whole matter. The
old railroad and funded debt OF the
county had been nearly all compromis-
ed, there being only S6O,eoO OF the
principal and the accumulated inter,
est thereon still outstanding, nearly all
of which had been reduced to Judg-
ments against the county. very niue
had been done toward a settlement OF
the debt tor several years. In the
mean time there has accumulated d
large sum of money in the treasury
which was lying idle. Indeed large
sum, about $4,000, has been aale IN
the treasury for several years. Inc
question arose what was best 10 De
done ? Vas it better to continue 10
hold out, while interest was accumulat-
ing at ruinous rates, and when we a
money idle in the treasury almost sui
ficient to pay the whole OF it OIL Or
should we make the best terms we
could with our creditors, and rid our
selves of this vexatious subject while
we were able 2 The county court
thought that sound financial manage.
ment required that the money should
be applied to the debt at the best OBJ
tainable rates. Before deciding, the
court consulted with the other officers
of the county, and others in whose
Judgment they had confidence. The
almost unanimous opinion was that the
money should be so used, but the trea-
surer has always opposed it, and when
he found we had decided to use what
we could, he informed US, upon in
curry, that there vas not more than
$50, 900, or at the outside $40 900, that
could be safely applied toward the
payment of the debt. But the court
decided, as 1t was the function OF the
court, not the treasurer, to decide, that
we could use more. Since that time
we have paid out of the compromise
fund alone over 1000, aud still have
on hand more than is actually needed
t therein, and, but tor the refusal OF the
, treasurer to pay the warrants i'll ques'
, ton, we would by this time have paiC
out over $4,000, and before the LIST O.
q next March hoped to have completely
2 wiped out the old county debt.
Section 1895 Revised statutes o
a Missouri makes it obligatory on thu
r court to order the purchase of bond
whenever there is enough money il
g the treasury to purchase Ii or more
j What we have done in the purcha
\ of bonds was, therefore, not only goot
financial policy, but was also a dut'
D under the lar.
What induced the treasurer to Op
g pose the use Of the money L do no
q know, but since we have determined
i to use the money against his advice
3, and, wisely as the sequel shows, he ha
seemed to feel himself aggrieved. ID
claims, 1 understand, that we al
- doing wrong to pay par for any Of tn
g. bonds we have bought; but m of tn
t, first acts of the present court was t
"a ratify his act in the purchase of a bono
one of the new ones it is true, at
or premium, and this bond which tn
to treasurer in the exercise of his abilit
rs as a financier purchased at a premium
of ed, while many of the judgmen
n bought by US were in danger Of beir
sued on, thus doubling up the prime
pal, which in turn would of course il
D. crease the interest accumulating Their
10 on.
er The treasurer's opposition may con
from a difference of opinion as to ii
st wisdom of our financial policy, but
Nv ought t remember that it is one of Il
p functions of the county court to deci'
Ie, this questions and not try %toexerclse al
D. Exceptional assumption" of authori
over it, for the facts have not ma
I'M proof of any Exceptional ability"
nd his part. Or the treasurer may
IN moved simply by a high and pure l
do gard for the strict law for certain
~ one who displays such noble devote
to law, can not be imagined to
mi prompted by any consideration of p
nv vate advantage.
y JOSEPH r SMITH